Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Giant of Chaos
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With ten baldies—no, Skull Head members—I headed to Sector 72. To get to Sector 72, we had to pass through Sector 73.
"Steel Armor... I heard you got beat to a pulp by Kane and ran away, but you look fine..."
"Who got beat by whom?"
"You by Kane. That guy's been bragging all over the neighborhood."
"That Kane bastard's a real psycho. His nose isn't long? Bet it's grown a mile by now."
Originally, I was trying to stick to the cool, mysterious, silent villain vibe.
But the ruler of Sector 73, A-rank villain [Karinbia], spouted such bullshit that I couldn't keep my mouth shut.
Karinbia was a tall guy. Half a head taller than me, but so skinny he looked like a scarecrow standing there. Does he even eat?
"Anyway, is that why you blocked my path?"
I asked him, arms crossed.
If that's the only reason he got in my way, Karinbia's getting snapped in half like a rice cracker today. Oh, right, can't kill him? Fine, I'll just break his back.
"Just... came to see your face..."
"You've seen it. I'm outta here."
"Okay..."
"???"
What the hell's with this guy? He's seriously just gonna leave?
Karinbia actually turned around and walked into a building, like seeing my face was his whole purpose. His goons kept wary eyes on us, tense as hell.
Eh, if he doesn't wanna fight, no point starting one. Plus, he cleared the road—can't complain.
Right now, all I wanted was to hurry up and crush that cocky Kane bastard who'd thrown down the gauntlet.
"Stings, doesn't it."
Feeling those prickly stares from behind, we pressed on toward Sector 72, where Kane was waiting.
"Boss. You really just gonna let that arrogant prick walk?"
"....."
Karinbia gazed out the window at Bal Jeong-nam's retreating figure. Beside him stood his right-hand man, B-rank villain [Red Gorilla], scowling fiercely.
"Just give the order. I'll run out there and kill that bastard ri—huh?"
"....."
Karinbia held up his palm to Red Gorilla.
"Boss, why... huh? What the?"
"....."
Red Gorilla figured Karinbia was signaling him to shut up. But on closer look, his palm was dotted with sweat like some hyperhidrosis case.
"Boss, why are you sweating like this..."
"Predator..."
"Huh?"
"Steel Armor... that guy's a predator..."
"Predator? That scrawny runt?"
Red Gorilla had offed plenty of villains in his career. Big guys like Steel Armor? He'd crushed them all without breaking a sweat.
That string of easy wins had him cocky, even against an A-rank like Steel Armor.
But Karinbia saw it differently.
"The Hero Association... they screwed up."
"Boss, what the hell are you talking about? Explain it so I can understand!"
"That guy's... not A-rank..."
"Then B-rank?"
"No... S-rank."
"...Huh?"
Red Gorilla's eyes went wide.
He respected and trusted his boss like a brother, but this? No way he could buy it.
S-rank!
The pinnacle for any superhuman. A mountain you couldn't just climb—needed countless battlefields survived to even approach it.
And this punk? Fresh-faced newbie villain? S-rank? Red Gorilla, with nearly twenty years under his belt, couldn't swallow it.
"Boss, you sure you aren't mistaking something? S-rank isn't for every Tom, Dick, and Harry. How's a rookie like that S-rank?"
"....."
Red Gorilla kept yapping, but Karinbia stayed silent, lost in memories of a man he'd met before.
-Are you Karinbia? Hm... Tall as advertised.
'[Shadow Killer]...'
S-rank villain Shadow Killer.
Everything shrouded in mystery except his rank and name. Rumors of him existing a century ago, or being a monster—nothing solid.
The instant he'd faced Shadow Killer, Karinbia felt the monstrous evil lurking inside him.
A beast forged from revulsion, horror, and terror all mashed together.
'I'm dead.'
Facing that ball of pure killing intent and malice, Karinbia had seen his end. No mere human could control that.
-Done staring? One tip: don't peek into others' souls. You might get ripped apart.
But he hadn't died.
-Eh... Your power's not easy to handle, so mercy this once. Be grateful forever. In exchange, I'll take your turf.
Karinbia once ruled seven sectors: 33 through 39.
Traded them all for his life to Shadow Killer. Now he clung to just Sector 73, quiet as a mouse.
'Never thought... I'd meet someone like Shadow Killer again...'
And today, facing Steel Armor, Karinbia flashed back to that encounter.
Steel Armor was similar yet different.
Inside him dwelled a giant: brutal yet kind, savage yet warm.
Where Shadow Killer was a monster of pure malice, Steel Armor was a giant armed with chaos.
'Things... are gonna get noisy for a while...'
The underworld had a fragile peace. Short-lived, sure.
One step from a giant, and everything's rubble. With the giant moving, peace was off the table.
"Uh... Boss."
"....."
As we entered Kane's Sector 72, one of the mid-bosses trailing me spoke up. I glanced back; he scanned around nervously before opening his mouth.
"You really planning to take him solo? Kane's got four villains under him, plus over a hundred goons. You're strong, Boss, but..."
"No matter how many worms gather..."
"Huh?"
"They can't beat a dragon."
Down in my pants, a dragon clutches two yeouiju, coiled and ready. Ergo, I'm a dragon.
Hundreds, thousands of worms? Still no match.
Size difference.
"Just do what I tell you."
"Yes, sir..."
"....."
'This guy's eyes are darting like crazy.'
The mid-boss's gaze flicked wildly. Clear as day he was plotting to bolt if shit hit the fan.
"Alright, let's go. Kane's waiting."
"Uh... Boss."
"....."
Damn, this guy's chatty. Beat him before Kane?
"Not that way—this way."
"... Lead on."
Following the mid-boss's guide, we headed to Kane's hideout.
"Kekeke... Didn't hear 'come alone,' rookie?"
"B-Boss!"
"Spare us! Boss, please have mercy!"
We arrived at Kane's lair to find him and his crew already geared for war, tipped off somehow.
All armed with assault rifles, snipers on the rooftops. And as the mid-boss said, four superhumans besides Kane.
Kneeling in front of them: my Skull Heads, dragged there. They begged the second they saw me.
"Brought my crew, so keep your promise—don't kill these ones."
"Boss—!"
"I don't wanna die—!!!"
Kane's goons shoved rifles at their shiny bald heads, and snot and tears started flowing.
My subordinates, scared shitless like that? Real men laugh in death's face to become Pirate King.
And hey! I didn't expect much, but at least one "Boss! It's dangerous! Forget us and run!" Nah. All just blubbering for mercy.
The old me? I'd have pissed myself too—barrel to the back of the head? Terrifying!
But I'm not that guy anymore. Now I can boldly chew them out. Kekeke!
Almost let those defective products die, but held back.
Skull Head's already short-staffed; lose these, gotta recruit from scratch. Pain in the ass when I wanna expand fast.
"You lot, go do what I said."
"Yes. Let's move."
"Yup!"
"Hm? Hold up."
My crew backed off to cover, and Kane smirked, halting his men. Barrels lifted skyward.
"What're you doing?"
"Filming."
"What?"
Safe behind cover, my guys whipped out cameras and started recording me and Kane.
"You thought I'd fight you with my crew?"
"What?"
Kane scowled at my arrogance.
"You. And your goons."
I swept my eyes over Kane and his men.
"I can kill you all solo."
"Kuh, kekekeke! They said Steel Armor's nuts, and damn if they weren't right!"
Kane burst out laughing, then went feral, barking orders.
"Kill all those rags."
"Yes."
"Uwaaaak!"
His goons jammed rifles back at the bald heads.
The second they squeezed—
"Farewell to firearms."
Ping—! Pak—!
"Uwaaaak!"
"Aaaak!"
Bullets flew into their shoulders. The six rounds I'd flicked from between my fingers.
"You lot, run."
"Th-thank you, Boss!"
"Who said you could?! Kill 'em all!"
"Yes!"
My kneeling crew bolted behind me as bullets rained down.
Swipe—
I raised my hand.
"Return serve."
My hand became a mantis shrimp punch, whipping up wind. Left to right, right to left.
"Guhk!"
"Agh!"
"Kuaaaak!"
"Wh-what?!"
Aaah... my hand's a mantis shrimp now—call it the mantis hand!
Aaah... O hand... did you score? I can't watch your games anymore.
Hm? Nah, wrong vibe.
Deflected bullets boomeranged back. None passed me, none hit my crew. They escaped clean.
Only Kane's goons ate their own lead.
"Cease fire! Cease fire!"
Damage mounting, Kane finally yelled to stop. Barrels went quiet.
"You fucking... kill that bastard!"
"Ooooooh!"
"Huaaah!"
Realizing guns were useless, Kane's men charged with knives, hammers, axes—weapons gleaming.
Seen fools like these? I'm a close-quarters specialist, you dumb shits.
"When we meet, we greet with fists!"
"Kuhak?!"
Singing as I swung. Ever seen Kung Fu Hustle? Like that epic scene—Kane's goons flew skyward off my punches. Become stars up there!
"Grit! You four, go!"
His men dropping without a hit, Kane gnashed his teeth and unleashed his villain crew.
Figured non-supers to wear me down. Dumb plan.
If I had some other power, maybe. But I'm a Body Enhancer. Plus Regeneration Boost—stamina snaps back quick.
"Yes."
"Thought I'd die of boredom waiting."
"Sorry, but looks like Boss won't even need to step in."
"Kuhahaha! Four of us together? Even an A-rank couldn't last!"
"Th-this is...!"
I glared at the four villains closing in, eyes bulging.
"The Four Heavenly Kings!"
The Four Heavenly Kings! So damn cool!
From today, gotta recruit supers for my own Four Heavenly Kings. Or Twelve Divine Beasts? Rainbow Villains?
How many subordinates ideal?!